Wrapping device and wrapping method using the wrapping device

ABSTRACT

A wrapping device for manually operating to package products, particularly of cubic or cuboidal shape, includes a table, an upper side folder, a first heater, second heaters, first adjusters, second adjusters, and side interfolders. A wrapper such as a film is extended on the table and a product is placed on a recess of the table. Then, the film is folded toward the top face of the product, to which the folder is moved to fuse it by the first heater. Then, the first adjusters and the second adjusters are moved, and the table is moved downward to interfold, and fuse the film by the second heaters.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a manually operable wrapping device forpackaging products each with a thin wrapper such as a film, and also toa method for packaging products each with a thin wrapper such as a film.

BACKGROUND ART

A variety of products are wrapped into packages in a thin soft wrappersuch as a film to protect their external appearances. When the productis cubic or cuboidal, the Japanese commonly called “caramel packaging”wherein the “caramel” is a candy individually having a cuboidal or cubicshape. The four sides or faces (hereinafter, “faces”) of the product arecovered in the other two faces free from the wrapper but finally beingfully covered with the folded wrapper until the product is entirelyenclosed.

In this case it may be necessary to bond the folded portion of the film,so as to secure the complete seal of the product. The bonding iseffected by use of an adhesive or alternatively fusing by heat.

Under the mass-production system a large number of products of the sameshape are constantly wrapped into packages, so that it is necessary toemploy a single-purpose wrapping machine for each size or shape of theproducts. One version of the wrapping machines of such kind is disclosedin Japanese Patent Laid-open Specification No. 8-276905 A.

One of the problems of the known wrapping machines is in their size andmechanical complexity required to effect the electrically driven systemso as to deal with a large quantity of products automatically at arelatively high speed.

More specifically, the known wrapping machine must have a means forturning products and/or for supporting the products each in a suspendedposition so as to enclose the four sides of the product with a wrapper.In addition, the machine must have a means for folding the protrudingportion of the wrapper over the product. Furthermore, when the productis a thin plate such as a compact disk (CD), the protruding portion ofwrapper tends to be short or narrow, thereby requiring a complicatedfolding mechanism.

Additionally, if the wrapper is elastic enough to readily restore itsoriginal shape, the wrapping machine must have a means for retaining thefolded wrapper to the mating wrapper chemically or thermally.

As a result, the known wrapping machine is necessarily large in size,complicated in mechanism, and expensive in production. This will be ofparticular disadvantage when the quantity to be packed is small. Anotherdisadvantage is that the known wrapping machine requires a relativelylarge site for installation.

The primary object of the present invention is to provide a manuallyoperable wrapping device not only simple in structure but also easy inpackaging products with thin wrappers, thereby meeting the demand fordealing with products of various kinds.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

One version of the wrapping device embodying the present inventionincludes a table for receiving the product to be placed on; a movablefolder for folding the wrapper over the product; and a front face heaterfor fusing the wrapper at the front face of the product; the tablehaving a front lower step; and the movable folder having a front topstep and being movable to the table until its front top step takes aposition facing the front lower step in the thickness direction; whereinthe front face heater is movable between the front lower step and thefront top step, so as to fuse the wrapper at its front end face.

According to the present invention, the wrapping device can be manuallyoperated it is easy to wrap a product, one by one, in a relatively thinwrapper on the top and bottom end faces, the front and bottom end facesof the product, and the end portions of the wrapper are mutually fused.More specifically, the product is wrapped on its top and bottom endfaces and the front and bottom end faces in the opposite ends of thewrapper at the front end face, whereupon a portion of the wrapperprotruding from the front end face of the product. The protrudingportion is then folded by the first step and the second step. In thisstate, the front face heater is moved between the first step and thesecond step so as to fuse the wrapper, thereby wrapping around the fourfaces of the product.

The device can include a side face interfolding member, and a side faceheater adapted to fuse the wrapper by heat, wherein the product on thetable is caused to slide and pass the side face interfolding member,where the wrapper is capable of interfolding on at least one of theright and left side faces of the product when the product passes theinterfolding member, the side face heater being provided upstream of theinterfolding member in the sliding direction.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a first version of wrapping deviceaccording to the present invention;

FIG. 2A is a side elevation of the wrapping device of FIG. 1 as viewedin the direction of arrow A in FIG. 1;

FIG. 2B is another side elevation of the wrapping device of FIG. 1 asviewed in the direction of arrow B in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of a front face heater provided in thewrapping device of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of a side face heater provided in thewrapping device of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a front view illustrating a state in which a film is extendedon the wrapping device of FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is a side view illustrating a state in which a CD case is placedon a film extended on the wrapping device of FIG. 1;

FIG. 7 is a side view illustrating a state in which the film is foldedover the top face of the CD case from the state shown in FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is an enlarged side view illustrating a state in which the endportion of the film is folded in the state shown in FIG. 7;

FIG. 9A is a front view illustrating a state in which a film is extendedon the wrapping device of FIG. 1 and its end portion is folded;

FIG. 9B is an enlarged side view of the folded end portion of the filmshown in FIG. 9A;

FIG. 10 is a perspective view illustrating the film mutually fused atits ends;

FIG. 11 is a perspective view illustrating the film folded at two spotsby first movable adjusters in the state shown in FIG. 10;

FIG. 12 is a front view illustrating the mutually fused film in thestate shown in FIG. 9A;

FIG. 13 is a perspective view illustrating the process of folding thefilm at the top face by a second movable adjuster at the state shown inFIG. 11;

FIG. 14 is a perspective view illustrating the film folded at the topface by the second adjuster in the state shown in FIG. 11;

FIG. 15 is a front view illustrating the state in which the frame hasbeen shifted toward a table in the state shown in FIG. 12;

FIG. 16 is a side view illustrating the state in the process of shiftingfrom the state shown in FIG. 12 to the state shown in FIG. 15;

FIG. 17 is a side view of the state shown in FIG. 15;

FIG. 18 is a perspective view illustrating the state of the film whilethe table is changing from the upper position to the lower position inthe state shown in FIG. 14;

FIG. 19 is a perspective view illustrating the state of the film whenthe table has changed from the upper position to the lower position inthe state shown in FIG. 14;

FIG. 20 is a side view illustrating the state of FIG. 19;

FIG. 21 is a front view illustrating the state in which the frame andthe first adjusters have been restored to the respective original statesfrom the state of FIG. 15;

FIG. 22A is a front view illustrating another version of wrapping deviceaccording to the present invention;

FIG. 22B is a side view illustrating the wrapping device of FIG. 22A;

FIG. 23 is an enlarged side view illustrating the upper part of FIG.22B;

FIG. 24 is another aspect of the side view of FIG. 22B;

FIG. 25 is a further aspect of the side view of FIG. 22B;

FIG. 26 is another aspect of the side view shown in FIG. 25;

FIG. 27 is a perspective view illustrating the state in which a CD caseis being wrapped in a film;

FIG. 28A is a side view illustrating the process of wrapping a product;

FIG. 28B is a perspective view of the state of FIG. 28A;

FIG. 29A is a side view illustrating other aspect of the process ofwrapping a product;

FIG. 29B is a perspective view of the state of FIG. 29A;

FIG. 30A is a side view illustrating another aspect of the process ofFIG. 29A;

FIG. 30B is a perspective view illustrating the state of FIG. 30A;

FIG. 31A is a side view illustrating still another aspect of the processof wrapping a product;

FIG. 31B is a perspective view illustrating the state of FIG. 31A;

FIG. 32A is a side view illustrating another aspect of the process ofwrapping a product;

FIG. 32B is a perspective view illustrating the state of FIG. 32A;

FIG. 33A is a front view illustrating a third version of wrapping deviceaccording to the present invention;

FIG. 33B is a side view of the wrapping device of FIG. 33A;

FIG. 34 is a perspective view illustrating an interfolding member;

FIG. 35 is a perspective view illustrating the process of wrapping aproduct by the third version of wrapping device;

FIG. 36A is a fragmentary perspective view illustrating the process ofwrapping a product;

FIG. 36B is a side view of the state of FIG. 36A;

FIG. 37A is a fragmentary perspective view illustrating other aspect ofthe process of wrapping a product;

FIG. 37B is a fragmentary side view of the state shown in FIG. 37A;

FIG. 38A is a fragmentary perspective view illustrating another aspectof the process of wrapping a product;

FIG. 38B is a fragmentary side view of the state of FIG. 38A; and

FIG. 39 is a fragmentary perspective view illustrating the process ofwrapping a product.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

A first version of the wrapping device embodying the present inventionwill be described:

In FIG. 1, the wrapping device 1 is designed to wrap a rectangularcompact disk case (viz. CD case) 80 in a synthetic film 90. In FIG. 10the case 80 and the film 90 are illustrated on a larger scale. The film90 is extended on a table 10, and the CD case 80 is placed on theextended film 90. Then, the film 90 is folded over the case 80 until itsend portions cover the four faces of the CD case 80, and film portionsprotruding from the uncovered two faces are interfolded over theremaining two faces. Finally, the end portions of the wrapper arefusively adhered together by heat.

For explanation's convenience, the “thickness direction” denotes adirection vertical to the top surface of the table 10, the “widthdirection” denotes a direction parallel to the top surface of the table10 and vertical to the faces of the product over which the film 90 isinterfolded, and a “longitudinal direction” denotes a direction verticalto both the thickness direction and the width direction. As is evidentfrom the drawings, the top face and the bottom end face of the productare opposite in the thickness direction, the front end face and thebottom end face are opposite in the longitudinal direction, and theright side face and the left side face positioning between two sides ofthe top and the bottom end faces are opposite in the width direction.

In addition to the table 10, the wrapping device 1 includes a pluralityof first movable adjusters 11 carried on coupling rods 21, a pluralityof second movable adjusters 12 carried on a frame 22 supporting twosecond adjusters 12, a movable folder 17, side interfolders 13, a frontface heater 15, side face heaters 16, and a base 43.

The table 10, as shown in FIG. 1, has a rectangular shape. The table 10is provided with a first rib 18 and a second rib 19 projecting from thetop surface of the table 10. The first rib 18 and the second rib 19 havesubstantially the same shape each having a rectangular cross section,and extending in parallel in the width direction.

The first rib 18 has an inner shoulder 18 a toward the second rib 19,and the second rib 19 has an inner shoulder 19 a toward the first rib18. The first rib 18 and the second ribs 19 define a receiving placeidentified as a recess 10 a therebetween, which allows a CD case to beplaced on as described below.

Herein, the table 10 is as wide as the CD case 80, and a distancebetween the shoulder 18 a of the first rib 18 and the shoulder 19 a ofthe second rib 19 is as long as the CD case 80. The recess 10 adimensionally conforms to the bottom end face 84 of the CD case 80. Thetable 10 has a recess 10 b at each edge in the width direction of thetable 10 to form a space between the table 10 and side interfolders 13described below so that a user can insert his or her fingers into therecesses 10 b to raise the table 10.

The table 10, as shown in FIG. 1, is supported in a known manner such asby a pivot and supports 23. The pivot (not shown) is connected to aconnecting portion 50 secured to a base 43 provided under the wrappingdevice 1. The table 10 is pivotably supported, parallel to the widthdirection, around the pivot (not shown).

The support 23 can selectively support the table 10 at an upper positionor at a lower position as desired. The support 23 has a knob 25, wherebythe table 10 is shifted to the lower position by its own weight. Thetable 10 is manually returned to the upper position.

The table 10 is pivotally rotatable, so that it takes various tiltedpostures, where, for example, the shoulder 19 a can be higher than theshoulder 18 a at the upper position, and can be virtually horizontal atthe lower position.

Each of the first movable adjusters 11, as shown in FIGS. 1, 10, and 11,is preferably of reverse L-shape. The first adjusters 11 are provided atfour corners, adjacent to the opposite ends of the table 10 in the widthdirection, adjacent to the first and the second ribs 18 and 19 in thelongitudinal direction. The first adjusters 11 at the four corners aresituated slightly above the table 10 at almost the same position in thethickness direction (the vertical direction).

The distal ends 11 a of the first adjusters 11 project in thelongitudinal direction, and those of the first adjusters 11 on the sameside in the width direction project in a different direction, inwardlyfacing each other.

The first adjusters 11 moves over virtually the same distance as theprojecting length of the distal ends 11 a.

FIG. 2B shows the table 10 viewed from underneath. Referring to FIG. 2B,each of the first adjusters 11 on the same side in the longitudinaldirection (the cross direction) are connected each other by means of acoupling rod 21. The wrapping device 1 has two coupling rods 21, in eachof the first adjusters 11 in four places connected to one of the rods21. The coupling rods 21 each have a sliding portion 33 that engages ina rail 31 at the bottom of the table 10 so as to be movable in thelongitudinal direction. Consequently, the movement of the coupling rods21 causes the first adjusters 11 to move in the longitudinal direction.

The sliding portions 33, as shown in FIG. 2B, are hung on the rail 31not to fall downward, and other members such as the coupling rods 21 andthe first adjusters 11 fixed to the rods 21 are also hung on the table10 by means of the rails 31.

The wrapping device 1 has a pair of operating handles 30 engaged withthe coupling rods 21. By sliding the operating handles 30 in thelongitudinal direction the first adjusters 11 is moved. The operatinghandles 30 have ribs 35 facing each other with a spring 34 loadedtherebetween. The spring 34 is a compression spring whereby theoperating handles 30 are kept away from each other.

The paired operating handles 30 are arranged on the same side of thetable 10, so as to be operated by one hand.

Referring to FIG. 1, there is provided two pieces of the second movableadjusters 12, which are of thin plate-like shape.

The wrapping device 1 has a frame 22, to which two pieces of the secondadjusters 12 are attached. The frame 22 is journaled by a pivot 22 aattached to a connecting portion 50 and extending in the widthdirection. The frame 22 is pivotable around the pivot 22 a so as to bepivotally moved toward the table 10. The second adjusters 12 areattached so that their distal ends 12 a points toward the table 10. Thedistal ends 12 a have substantially the same length as that of the CDcase 80 in the longitudinal direction and are of substantially flatshape. By moving the frame 22 toward the table 10 the second adjusters12 is moved from top down, thereby leaving away from the table 10 in thewidth direction.

A movable folder 17, as shown in FIG. 1, is a plate-like member andjournaled by a pivot 17 a attached to the connecting portion 50 andextending in the width direction. The folder 17 is pivotable around thepivot 22 a so as to be pivotally moved toward the table 10. The pivotpoint of the folder 17 and the pivot point of the frame 22 in the secondadjusters 12 are provided at the same side relative to the table 10. Thepivot axes are situated outside of the side of the table 10 adjacent tothe rib 18, more particularly, adjacent to the front face 84 of themounted CD case 80, and parallel to the side of the table 10.

The pivot 17 a is connected to the folder 17 adjacent to its one edge,whereas a front top step 20 is formed adjacent to the other edge on theside opposite to the pivot 17 a.

The folder 17 is pivotally moved toward the table 10 about the pivot 22a. The pivotal movement of the folder 17 toward the table 10 displacesthe front top step 20 to a point above the shoulder 18 a on the table10, so as to be opposed to the shoulder 18 a in the thickness directionof the table 10.

The folder 17 has a slot 17 b through which a handle 40 described belowattached to a retainer plate 39 of the heater 15 passes, so that thefolder 17 is tilted over the table 10.

The side interfolders 13 each are composed of elongated plates andprovided away from the table 10 in the width direction. The sideinterfolders 17 provided at opposite sides in the width direction of thetable 10, as described below, are respectively located away from a leftside face 85 and a right side face 86 of the CD case 80 placed on thetable 10. The side interfolders 13 each have substantially the samelength as that of the recess 10 a.

The side interfolders 13 each have a top face 13 a, which is located ata lower level than the recess 10 a of the table 10 when the table 10 isat a raised position, and at a higher level than the table 10 at thelower position. The side interfolders 13 are secured to the base 43.

While the table 10 rotates downward (anti-clockwise in FIG. 1), therecess 10 a becomes flush with the side interfolders 13, wherein thebottom surface of the recess 10 a is tilted relative to the top faces 13a of the side interfolders 13. More specifically, the shoulder 19 a istilted so as to be higher than the shoulder 18 a.

The front face heater 15 is in front of the front end face 81 of the CDcase 80 placed on the table 10. As shown in FIG. 3, the heater 15includes a tubular elastic member 37 of synthetic resin or rubber, andan electrically-heated conductor 38 embedded in the tubular member 37.The electrical conductor 38 generates heat in itself, thereby causingthe fused films 90 to adhere each other, as described below.Alternatively, a thermally fusible adhesive may be previously applied toat least one of the films 90.

The heater 15 is secured, adjacent to the table 10, to the edge of theretainer plate 39 over its entire length.

The retainer plate 39 is made of heat-resistant synthetic resin, so thatthe heat generated by the electrically-heated conductor 38 is preventedfrom transferring to the retainer plate 39.

The retainer plate 39 is movable in the width direction toward the table10, and is urged in a direction away from the table 10 by an urgingmember like a spring (not shown). The retainer plate 39 has a handle 40secured thereto. Only when the handle 40 is pushed toward the table 10,the heater 15 is moved toward the table 10, and when the pushing isstopped, the handle 40 moves back in a direction away from the table 10by the urging member.

When the handle 40 is pushed, the heater 15 is located above theshoulder 18 a, adjacent to the front end face 81 of the CD case 80placed on the table 10. Then, the heater 15 is moved toward the table 10to press the front end face 81 of the CD case 80.

Even when the folder 17 has been moved to the table 10, the heater 15 isalso movable toward the table 10. In this case, the heater 15 movesbetween the shoulder 18 a and the step 20.

Another heaters 16 are arranged on either side in the width direction ofthe table 10. Each of the heaters 16 is constituted, as a cross sectionof that is shown in FIG. 4, similar to the heater 15.

Retainer plates 39 of the heaters 16 are located higher than the sideinterfolders 13 and are movable in the longitudinal direction toward thetable 10. When being moved toward the table 10 at the lower position,the heaters 16 move toward the edges of either side of the table 10, andto a position above and adjacent to outside the width direction of therecess 10 a.

The heaters 16 are moved away from the table 10 by an urging member (notshown). The retainer plates 39 of the heaters 16 each are provided in ahandle 40. The heaters 16 are moved toward the table 10 by the handles40. In this way, the heaters 16 are moved in the same manner as theheater 15.

Now, the operation of the wrapping device 1 will be described:

The film 90 has a width a little wider than that of the CD case 80 and alength at least twice the total amount of the length and thickness ofthe CD case 80. If the film is longer, it must be cut to the lengthdescribed above.

The material of the film 90 can be selected from a wide range, such asethylene, polypropylene, and a drawn film.

At first, as shown in FIG. 1, the table 10 is located at the upperposition and the frame 22 and the front face folder 17 are located awayfrom the table 10.

Referring to the FIG. 5, the film 90 is placed over the recess 10 a ofthe table 10. More specifically, the end of the film 90 in thelongitudinal direction is to be adjacent to the shoulder 18 a so as tocover the entire area of the recess 10 a. In this way the film 90 isextended over the recess 10 a, thereby covering the shoulders 18 a and19 a.

The distance between the end of the film 90 in the longitudinaldirection and the shoulder 18 a should be shorter than the thickness ofthe CD case 80.

As shown in FIG. 6, the CD case 80 is placed on the film 90 so as to fitin the recess 10 a against the shoulder 18 a, so that the film 90 isfolded along the shoulder 18 a and toward the front end face 81 of theCD case 80. Similarly, the film 90 is placed between the CD case 80 andthe shoulder 19 a, so that the film 90 is folded along the shoulder 19 aand toward the bottom end face 82 of the CD case 80. The bottom end face84 of the CD case 80 is covered with the film 90.

Next, the film 90 is folded over the top face 83 of the CD case 80.Referring to FIG. 7, since the film 90 is slightly longer than twice thetotal amount of the length and thickness of the CD case 80, its endportion covers the top face 83 of the CD case 80. Thus, the film 90covers the bottom end face 82, the top face 83, and the bottom end face84, and the opposite ends of the film 90 in the longitudinal directioncome to the front end face 81 of the CD case 80.

Then, as shown in FIG. 7, the movable folder 17 is pivotally movedtoward the table 10, thereby making the front top step 20 take itsposition facing the shoulder 18 a in the thickness direction.

The front top step 20 of the folder 17 folds the film 90 protruding fromthe top face 83 toward the front end face 81, so that the film 90 partlyoverlaps as in the state shown in FIGS. 8 and 9B.

At this time, by slightly pulling the film 90 toward the front end face81, the case 80 can be neatly wrapped in the film 90 with no gap betweenthe film and the surfaces of the product.

At this moment, heat is applied to the overlapping films 90 so as tobecome softened through the electrically-heated conductor 38, wherebythe tubular member 37 is appropriately heated, and then the handle 40 ismoved in the direction indicated by arrows in FIGS. 9A and 9B to bringthe tubular member 37 into contact with the overlapping film 90, therebyfusing the overlapping portions of the film 90 to adhere together. Oncethe film 90 has been thermally adhered, it does not return to theoriginal state.

In this way, as shown in FIG. 10, the CD case 80 is covered in the film90 over its front end face 81, its bottom end face 82, its top face 83and its bottom end face 84, but the portions of film which protrude fromthe left side face 85 and the right side face 86 of the case 80 remainfree from the adhesion.

Then, these portions of the film 90 are interfolded over the case 80.Herein, the method of interfolding the portion of film 90 protrudingfrom the right side face 86 will be described, with the omission of thedescription about the one from the left side face 85.

As is evident from FIG. 10, the table 10 is upward taking the upperposition, so that the recess 10 a of the table 10 is located higher thanthe top face 13 a of the side interfolder 13. Consequently, the film 90protruding in the width direction is also located higher than the topface 13 a of the side interfolder 13. Therefore, the distal ends 11 a ofthe first adjusters 11 are located in front of the protruding film 90and the back thereof.

In FIG. 12, when the two operating handles 30 are moved inward, the pairof adjusters 11 are moved inward, so that that portion of film 90 whichprotrudes toward the right side face 86 of the CD case 80 is pressed bythe distal ends 11 a. Thus, the state shown in FIG. 11 is achieved.Advantageously, all the first adjusters 11 are put into operation byoperating the handles 30 with one hand. Alternatively, the operatinghandle 30 can be single so as to operate all the first adjusters 11.

When the first adjusters 11 are moved inward, a front end faceprotruding part 91 extending from the front end face 81 and a bottom endface protruding part 92 extending from the bottom end face 82 among theprotruded film 90 are interfolded inward. Then, as shown in FIG. 11, atop face protruding part 93 extending from the top face 83 and a bottomend face protruding part 94 extending from the bottom end face 84 areslightly transformed in the thickness direction, when the front end faceprotruding part 91 and the bottom end face protruding part 92 areinterfolded.

By continuing to move the frame 22 toward the table 10, the states shownin FIGS. 14, 15, and 17 are achieved through the process of the statesshown in FIGS. 13 and 16, thereby locating the second adjuster 12adjacent to the right side face 86 of the CD case 80.

At this moment, as shown FIG. 13, the top face protruding part 93 isinterfolded downward by the second adjuster 12. Subsequently, the secondadjuster 12 is moved toward the table 10, and then moved downward, inthe course of which the distal end 12 a of the second adjuster 12outstretches an upper side 86 a of the right side face 86 of the CD case80. In this way, the top face protruding part 93 gradually proceeds froma front side (rightward in FIG. 13) to a rear side (leftward in FIG.13), thereby ensuring that the part 93 is smoothly interfolded.

After the top face protruding part 93 is interfolded, the knob 25 of thesupport 23 is operated so as to shift the table 10 from the upperposition to the lower position. Referring to FIG. 14, when the table 10is at the upper position before the knob 25 is operated, the bottom endface protruding part 94 is located higher than the top face 13 a of theside interfolder 13, and then, when the table 10 is shifted to the lowerposition, the bottom end face protruding part 94 is interfolded upward,so the top face protruding part 93 finds itself situated on the innerside from the bottom end face protruding part 94. Thus, as shown in FIG.20, the state depicted in the chain line changes into that depicted insolid line.

when the table 10 is rotated with its top end positioning downward isfrom the upper position, the level of the top and bottom end faces ofthe recess 10 a of the table 10 is lower than the top face 13 a of theside interfolder 13. As a result, the bottom end face 84 of the CD case80 on the table 10 moves in a tilted posture relative to the top face 13a of the side interfolder 13, so that a point where the bottom end faceprotruding part 97 is interfolded proceeds gradually from a front side(the right as viewed in FIGS. 18 to 20) to a rear side (the left side asviewed in FIGS. 18 to 20).

Then, the operator releases the operating handles 30 to allow the firstadjusters 11 to return its original position, and also the frame 22 totake its original high position shown in FIG. 19. In this state, sincethe side interfolder 13 still catches the lower side of the bottom endface protruding part 94, and the front end face protruding part 91, thebottom end face protruding part 92, and the top face protruding part 93stay inside, the film 90 is prevented from restoring to the originalstate before being interfolded.

The heater 16 is switched on to heat the tubular member 37, and then thehandle 40 is operated to bring the heater 16 into contact with thebottom end face protruding part 94, thereby causing the protruding parts93 and 94 to adhere each other. Thus, the interfolded part of the film90 of the right side face 86 is prevented from restoring to the originalstate under its own elasticity.

In this way the packaging operation is completed.

The present invention requires no expedient for lifting the CD case 80after it is placed on the table 10, thereby simplifying the wholestructure of the device. The steps 18 a and 19 a, and 20 and the movableadjusters 11 and 12 principally do the folding and interfolding of thefilm 90 over the CD case 80, thereby ensuring a trouble-free packagingoperation.

Another version of wrapping device 2 will be described by referring toFIGS. 22A, 22B, 27 to 32:

FIGS. 22A and 22B are a front view and a side view of the wrappingdevice provided in the second embodiment of the present invention. FIGS.23 to 26 are enlarged side views of the upper part of FIGS. 22A and 22B.FIG. 27 is a perspective view of a CD case to be wrapped and a film.FIGS. 28 to 32 are perspective views and side views illustrating adiagram on the way of wrapping.

As shown in FIGS. 22A and 22B, the second version of wrapping device 2includes a table 110 for receiving a product, a movable folder 117,right and left side face interfolding members (viz. side faceinterfolding members) 130, and heating rollers (viz. side face heaters)133.

As best shown in FIG. 22B, the table 110 has a base 137 having adeclined surface 137 a for directly receiving the product, and an uppermover 128 and a lower mover 129 both being movable along the surface 137a.

The base 137 is made of a rectangular plate, and is supported in atilted posture by a support 138. There is provided a front lower step118 a at an upper part and on the surface 137 a of the base 137. As bestshown In FIGS. 23 and 24, the front lower step 118 a extendshorizontally.

The upper mover 128 and the lower mover 129 each have a rod-shaped mainbody 142 extending horizontally and adjusters 111 arranged on theopposite ends of the main body 142. The adjusters 111 project along thesurface 137 a of the base 137 and inward so that the adjusters 111 ofthe upper mover 128 and the adjusters 111 of the lower mover 129 arelocated in a face-to-face position. More specifically, the adjusters 111of the upper mover 128 project downward and the adjusters 111 of thelower mover 129 project upward.

Herein, the main body 142 has substantially the same length as the widthof the CD case 80. A distance between the lower mover 129 at its initialposition and the front lower step 118 a is substantially the same as thelength of the CD case 80.

The upper movers 128 and the lower movers 129 are movable along thesurface 137 a of the base 137 grooves 141 on the surface 137 a, so thatadjusters 135 formed on the upper and the lower movers 128 and 129engage in the grooves 141 (FIG. 22A), whereby the upper and the lowermovers 128 and 129 are prevented from disengaging with the base 137 andbeing smoothly moved along the surface 137 a. The grooves 141 arearranged in a direction extending vertically, so that the upper movers128 and the lower movers 129 are vertically movable.

Herein, the upper movers 128 and the lower movers 129 are urged upwardby means of an urging member (not shown). This structure allows theupper movers 128 and the lower movers 129 to move downward only whenneeded. The lower mover 129 also has a stopper (not shown) so as to takeits initial position.

The upper mover 128 has a handle 140, whereby the upper mover 128 isvertically moved by hand. Another heater is provided as a front faceheater 143 on the lower part of the upper mover 128 so as to fuse thefilm 90 of the front end face 81 of the CD case 80, as will be describedbelow.

The CD case 80 is placed on the top of the lower mover 129 of the table110 and on the surface 137 a of the base 137.

The right and left side face interfolding members 130, as shown in FIGS.22A, 22B and 31, are located in two places on each side slightly belowthe midline of the base 137. Each of the interfolding members 130includes conical rollers 131 and 132, which are rotatably secured to thebase 137 by means of shafts 131 a and 132 a. The shafts 131 b and 132 bare arranged horizontally and substantially parallel to the surface 137a of the base 137.

The rollers 131 and 132, as shown in FIG. 22A, are conical and taperedtowards the base 137.

The heating rollers 133 positioned in two places below the interfoldingmembers 130 are rotatably secured by means of shafts 133 b fixed to thebase 137. The shafts 133 b are vertical to the surface 137 a of the base137 and also vertical to a moving direction of the upper and the lowermovers 128 and 129. The heating rollers 133 can keep contact with theright and left side faces 86 and 85 of the CD case 80 in its outerperipheries 133 a.

As best shown in FIGS. 23 and 24, the movable folder 117 is made of anL-shaped plate and located adjacent to the upper edge of the base 137.The folder 117 is journaled by a pivot 117 a on the base 137, so as topivotally move toward the table 110. The folder 117 is provided in afront top step 120.

Herein, the folder 117, as shown in FIG. 22A, has a slot 147 whereby thehandle 140 of the upper mover 128 is moved.

The pivotal motion of the folder 117 toward the table 110 causes thefront top step 120 to take a position facing the front lower step 118 ain the thickness direction, so that the distance between the front topstep 120 and the front lower step 118 a can be made equal to thethickness of the CD case 80.

Another method of packaging a CD case 80 in a film 90 by employing thewrapping device 2 will be described.

First, as shown in FIG. 27, the film 90 is placed so as to cover the topface 83, the bottom end face 82, and the bottom end face 84. The film 90is A, made of the same material, having the same size as the wrapperused for the wrapping device 1; more particularly, it is slightly widerthan that of the CD case 80 and is twice as long as the total amount ofthe length and thickness of the CD case 80) plus an overlapping portionof the film.

Then, as shown in FIG. 22B, the film 90 and the CD case 80 are placed onthe surface 137 a of the base 137 of the device 2 on and above the topsurface of the lower mover 129 of the table 110. At this time, themovable folder 117 is opened, as best shown in FIG. 23.

FIGS. 28A and 28B show the film 90 in this state. Herein, the bottom endface 82 of the CD case 80 is in contact with the lower mover 129, andthe bottom end face protruding part 92 of the film 90 is interfolded bythe adjusters 111 of the lower mover 129 which is projecting upward atthis time.

The bottom end face 84 of the film 90 is sandwiched between the surface137 a of the base 137 and the CD case 80. The upper edge of the bottomend face 84 of the film 90 is folded over the front end face 81 by thefront bottom shoulder 118 a.

Subsequently, the folder 117 is pivotally moved toward the table 110, asshown in FIGS. 24, 29A and 29B. The front top step 120 takes itsposition facing the front lower step 118 a in the thickness direction,thereby folding the film 90 at the top face 83 over the front end face81.

In this way, the portions of the film 90 under the bottom end face 84and on the top face 83 are folded along the front end face 81, therebycovering the front end face 81 of the CD case 80. The film 90 partlyoverlaps at the front end face 81.

By further moving the handle 140 downward the upper mover 128 is moveddownward. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 25, the bottom side of the mainbody 142 of the upper mover 128 comes into contact with the front endface 81 of the CD case 80, and then, the heater section 143 of the uppermover 128 fuses the overlapping film 90 which were interfolded over thefront end face 81.

Then, as shown in FIG. 30, the film 90 covers the top face 83, thebottom end face 82, the bottom end face 84, and the front end face 81.Each of the right and the left side faces 86 and 85 has a top faceprotruding part 93 and a bottom end face protruding part 94 where thefilm 90 protrudes. The front end face protruding part 91 and the bottomend face protruding part 92 are folded by the adjusters 111 provided onthe upper mover 128 and the lower mover 129.

The handle 140 is further moved downward by a stronger force than theupward urging force acting on the upper mover 128 and the lower mover129, as shown in FIG. 26, thereby causing the upper mover 128, the CDcase 80, and the lower mover 129 to move downward. Therefore, the rightside faces 86 and the left side faces 85 of the CD case 80 reach a pointadjacent to the right and left side interfolding members 130 situated atboth sides slightly below the midline of the base 137.

In this way, the CD case 80 is caused to slide in the same direction asthe moving direction of the upper mover 128 and the lower mover 129.This sliding direction is in a direction along the surface 137 a.

Referring to FIG. 31, one of the bottom end face protruding parts 94 isinterfolded inward along the conical surface 131 a of the roller 131 ofthe interfolding member 130, and one of the top face protruding parts 93is interfolded inward along a conical surface 132 a of the roller 132.

Consequently, after the CD case 80 has passed the interfolding member130, the top face protruding part 93 and the bottom end face protrudingpart 94 are interfolded in an overlaid state so that the top faceprotruding part 93 comes outside, wherein they are interfolded fromdownside to upside.

As shown in FIGS. 32A and 32B, while the heating roller 133 is passingthe overlapping part, its outer periphery 133 a comes into contact withthe top face protruding part 93, thereby fusing it and also the bottomend face protruding part 94. The heating roller 133 is arrangedimmediately below the interfolding member 130, thereby fusing the film90 before the film 90 rebounds backward.

When the front end face 81 of the CD case 80 has passed the heatingroller 133, and the CD case 80 itself has taken a lower position thanthe heating roller 133, it shows that the wrapping of the CD case 80 isfinished.

Herein, FIGS. 28 to 32 illustrate only the left side face 85, but theright side face 86 is simultaneously wrapped in the same manner.

A further modified version of the embodiment will be described, using awrapping device 3:

FIGS. 33(A) and 33(B) are respectively a front view and a side view ofthe wrapping device 3 used for the third embodiment of the presentinvention. FIG. 34 is a perspective view of one of right and left sideface interfolding members 160. FIGS. 35 and 39 are perspective views,and FIGS. 36(A) to FIG. 36(B) to FIG. 38 are perspective views and sideviews each illustrating the process of wrapping.

The wrapping device 3, as shown in FIG. 33, includes a table 110, amovable folder 117, right and left side face interfolding members (viz.side face interfolding members) 160, and a pair of heating rollers 133.The wrapping device 3 has the same structure as that of the wrappingdevice 2, except for the right and left side face interfolding members160:

As shown in FIG. 34, the interfolding member 160 takes a rectangulartube-like form having two slots 161 and 162 on one of the sides,hereinafter “slotted side”. Two interfolding members 160 arerespectively arranged at both ends of and slightly below the midline ofthe base 137, as is the same with the interfolding members 130 providedin the second embodiment. The interfolding members 160 are positionedwith their slotted sides 163 located inside.

The slots 161 and 162, as the name implies, pass through the slottedside 163. The slot 161 extends over the full length from an edge 165 toan edge 166, and the slot 162 extends from the edge 165 halfway towardthe edge 166 in the longitudinal direction.

As shown in FIG. 33(B), the slot 161 is arranged closer to the surface137 a of the base 137 than the slot 162 is.

The slot 161 extends substantially parallel to the sliding direction ofthe CD case 80 in the longitudinal direction from the first edge 165until halfway toward the second edge 166, and then it departs from thebase 137. The slot 162 is tilted relative to the sliding direction so asto come close to the base 137 from the first edge 165 until halfway.

The slot 161 starts at the surface of the tilted surface 137 a, and theslot 162 starts at a point away from the tilted surface 137 a by adistance of the thickness of the CD case 80.

The method of wrapping a CD case 80 in a film 90 by using the wrappingdevice 3 will be described:

The first process is the same as that of the second embodiment, that is:

The film 90 is placed to cover the top face 83, the bottom end face 82,and the bottom end face 84. The packaging operation of the CD case 80 isfinished by fusing the film 90 at the side of the front end face 81 tocover the top face 83, the bottom end face 82, the bottom end face 84,and the front end face 81.

However, the second process of interfolding the portion of film 90protruding toward the right and left side faces 86 and 85 is differentfrom the second embodiment, that is:

The upper mover 128 is moved downward by operating the handle′, 40,thereby causing the CD case 80 and the lower mover 129 to move downward.Therefore, the top face protruding parts 93 and the bottom end faceprotruding parts 94 of the film 90 take their respective positionadjacent to the interfolding members 160 outside the right side face 86and the left side face 85.

The further downward movement of the CD case 80 causes its state tochange into the state shown in FIGS. 36A and 36B; that is, the bottomend face protruding part 94 is guided into the slot 161 of theinterfolding member 160 and the top face protruding part 93 is guidedinto the slot 162.

As shown in FIG. 36B, which is a cross-sectional view illustrating therelationship among the lower edge of the CD case 80, the bottom end faceprotruding parts 94 and the top face protruding parts 93 at the startingpoint of the slots 161 and 162, which are not yet folded.

The continued downward movement of the CD case 80 causes the bottom endface protruding part 94 to advance through the slot 161, and the topface protruding part 93 to enter the slot 162. Since the slot 162 istilted in the direction closer to the base 137, the top face protrudingpart 93 is gradually folded toward the base 137 in accordance in themovement of the CD case 80.

Then, when the lower edge of the CD case 80 comes halfway toward theinterfolding member 160, as shown in FIGS. 37A and 37B, the top faceprotruding part 93 is entirely interfolded. The bottom end faceprotruding part 94 is not interfolded at this halfway position.

The further downward movement of the CD case 80 causes the bottom endface protruding part to advance through the slot 161. Since the slot 161is tilted away from the base 137, the bottom end face protruding part 94is gradually folded toward the opposite side of the base 137 inaccordance in the movement of the CD case 80.

When the entire CD case 80 passes the interfolding member 160, as shownin FIG. 39, the film 90 on the left side face 85 of the CD case 80 iscompletely interfolded.

As is the case with the device 2, the overlapping parts of the top faceprotruding parts 93 and the bottom end face protruding parts 94 come tothe heating roller 133, and the outer periphery 133 a of the heatingroller 133 comes into contact with the top face protruding part 93.Therefore, the top face protruding parts 93 and the bottom end faceprotruding parts 94 are fused. Herein, the heating roller 133 isarranged immediately below the interfolding member 160, thereby fusingthe film 90 before the film 90 rebounds to its original posture.

It will be appreciated that the wrapping devices 2 and 3 can readilypackage the CD case 80 in the film 90. More specifically, the CD case 80is roughly covered with the film 90, and set in the wrapping device inthis state. Then, the movable folder 117 is pivotally moved, and thehandle 140 is operated, thus finishing the wrapping of the CD case 80.No complicated process is necessary such that laypeople can use thewrapping device 1, 2 or 3, as the case may be.

The embodiments have been described about the case where the product isa CD case with the use of a film, but they can be applied to any otherproducts with any other type of wrapper.

1. A wrapping device for packaging products in a relatively thin fusiblewrapper, the products having a top surface, a bottom surface, and foursides between the two surfaces, the device comprising: a table forreceiving the product to be placed on; a movable folder for folding thewrapper over the product; and a front face heater for fusing the wrapperat the front face of the product; the table having a front lower step;and the movable folder having a front top step and being movable to thetable until its front top step takes a position facing the front lowerstep in the thickness direction; wherein the front face heater ismovable between the front lower step and the front top step, so as tofuse the wrapper at its front end face.
 2. The wrapping device asdefined in claim 1, further comprising: a side face interfolding memberfor interfolding the wrapper on at least one of the right and left sidefaces of the product when the product passes the interfolding member;and a side face heater for fusing the wrapper at the side faces of theproduct.
 3. The wrapping device as defined in claim 2, wherein thereceiving face of the table is tilted relative to the horizontal so asto allow the product to slide downward along the receiving face.
 4. Thewrapping device as defined in claim 2, wherein the table comprises alower mover for supporting the product from the lower side, the moverbeing movable in a direction in which the product slides, and being keptready to be urged upward.
 5. The wrapping device as defined in claim 4,wherein the lower mover comprises an adjuster for interfolding a portionof the wrapper protruding from the bottom end face to at least one ofthe right and left side faces.
 6. The wrapping device as defined inclaim 2, wherein the table comprises an upper mover having an adjusterfor side interfolders of the wrapper protruding from the front end faceto at least one of the right and left side faces of the product.
 7. Thewrapping device as defined in claim 6, wherein the front face heater isattached to the upper mover of the table.
 8. The wrapping device asdefined in claim 2, wherein the side face interfolding member comprisesa pair of rollers each having a conical surface, so that the wrapperprotruding from the top and bottom end faces is interfolded over atleast one of the right and left side faces of the product by and alongthe conical surfaces while the product is sliding.
 9. The wrappingdevice as defined in claim 2, wherein the side face interfolding membercomprises slots being tilted relative to the sliding direction of theproduct so that the wrapper protruding from the top and bottom end facesis interfolded over at least one of the right and left side faces of theproduct by causing the product to slide into the slots.
 10. The wrappingdevice as defined in claim 8 or 9, further comprising a side face heaterfor fusing the wrapper.
 11. The wrapping device as defined in claim 1,wherein the table comprises a rear lower step, and a recess formedbetween the front lower step and the rear lower step of the table,wherein the distance between the front lower step and the rear lowerstep is substantially the same as the length of the product.
 12. Awrapping device for packaging products in a relatively thin fusiblewrapper, the products having a top surface, a bottom surface, and foursides between the two surfaces, the device comprising: a tablecomprising a place for receiving the product, the place havingsubstantially the same width as that of the product; a first movableadjuster; a second movable adjuster; an side interfolder arrangedoutside the width of the table; and a side face heater for fusing thewrapper; wherein the table is movable up and down, so that its productreceiving place can be located at an upper position than the top face ofthe side interfolder, and can be located at a lower position than thetop face of the side interfolder, wherein a pair of the first adjustersare caused to travel respectively along the right side face and leftside face of the product placed on the receiving place, so as tointerfold the wrapper protruding from the front end face and bottom endface over at least one of the side faces; wherein the second adjuster iscaused to move up and down along the respective side faces of theproduct, and to interfold the wrapper protruding from the top face overthe side faces of the product; and wherein the side face heater ismovable toward the side faces of the product placed on the table havingtaken a lower position.
 13. The wrapping device as defined in claim 12,further comprising a support for holding the table, thereby keeping thetable at an upper position, wherein the support having a knob operableby the support, thereby allowing the table to move to the lowerposition.
 14. The wrapping device as defined in claim 12, wherein thetable is tilted downward so that the product receiving place receivesthe product in a downwardly tilted posture, and allows the producttaking this position to pass the top face of the side interfolder,thereby interfolding a portion of the wrapper protruding from the bottomend face of the product over the product.
 15. The wrapping device asdefined in claim 12, wherein the second adjuster comprises a flat distalend, so that when the second adjuster is moved to the table, the distalend is tilted relative to the top edge of the side face of the productplaced on the table when the end passes the top edge.
 16. The wrappingdevice as defined in claim 12, wherein the first adjuster is provided ateach of the four places adjacent to opposite ends along the right sideface and the left side face of the product placed on the table and haveoperating handles for operating the first adjusters.
 17. The wrappingdevice as defined in claim 12, further comprising: a movable folder; anda front face heater for fusing the wrapper; wherein the table has afront lower step and a rear lower step and forms a receiving placehaving substantially the same length as the product between the frontlower step and the rear lower step; wherein the folder is provided in afront top step and movable toward the table, so that the front top stepcan take its position facing the front lower step along the thickness ofthe product on the table when the movable folder is moved toward thetable, so that the front face heater is displaceable between the frontlower step and the front top step, thereby fusing the wrapper stayingaround the front end face of the product.
 18. The wrapping device asdefined in claim 17, further comprising a frame for holding the secondmovable adjuster, each of the frame and the movable folder beingrotatable around a pivot extending outside and in parallel to the sidesof the table.
 19. The wrapping device as defined in claim 1 or 12,wherein at least one of the front face heater and the side face heatercomprises an elastic cylindrical sleeve and a heating element embeddedtherein.
 20. A wrapping method for using the wrapping device as definedin claim 1, wherein the wrapper is wider than the product, and is twiceas long as the total amount of the length and thickness of the product;the method comprising the steps of: extending a wrapper over the table;placing a product on the wrapper extended on the table; covering the topface, the bottom end face, and the bottom end face of the product withthe wrapper extended over the table; fusing the wrapper by the frontface heater at the front end face of the product to seal; and fusing theinterfolded portions of the wrapper at the right and left side faces.21. A wrapping method of using the wrapping device as defined in claim11 or 17, wherein the wrapper is wider than that of the product, and istwice as long as the total amount of the length and thickness of theproduct; the method comprising the steps of: extending the wrapper overthe receiving place of the table, in a first longitudinal end of thewrapper on the front lower step; folding the wrapper under the bottomend face of the product by the front lower step and the rear lower stepafter receiving the product on the wrapper on the table so as to engagein the recess of the table; folding back the wrapper to cover the topface of the product in a second longitudinal end of the wrapper moved tothe front lower step, whereupon folding the second end by the front topstep in the movable folder moved; and wrapping the top and bottom endfaces and the front and bottom end faces of the product in the wrapperby bonding the first end and the second end of the wrapper by means ofthe front side heater.
 22. A wrapping method of using the wrappingdevice as defined in claim 12, wherein the wrapper is wider than that ofthe product, and is twice as long as the total amount of the length andthickness of the product; the method comprising the steps of: bondingone longitudinal end and the other longitudinal end of the wrapper so asto cover the top face, the bottom end face, the front end face, andbottom end face of the product with the wrapper; interfolding the edgesof the wrapper extending in the length of the product over the rightside face and the left side face of the product inward by the firstmovable adjusters; interfolding a top portion of the wrapper extendingin the thickness of the product over the right side face and left sideface of the product inward by the second movable adjuster; interfoldinga bottom portion of the wrapper extending in the thickness of theproduct over the right side face and left side face inward by moving thetable to the lower position; and bonding the folded portions of thewrapper by the side face heaters.